In focus

Young girl dressed in a striped t-shirt and jean shorts, standing holding a garden hose watering a green lawn

Learn about the current drought conditions in the province and what you can do to conserve water.

Saint Mary Reservoir - waterbody surrounded by land and rocks

Find out about the impacts of drought on communities and the principles of sound water management.

Irrigation machine spraying water in a brown field

Information and tools to assist with on-farm business management and production issues during dry conditions and periods of business stress.

Overview

Generally, Alberta relies on melting snow and precipitation for most of its water. Droughts are prolonged periods of dry weather that deplete water resources, including:

  • natural sources (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater)
  • constructed storage (reservoirs and dugouts)
  • irrigation canals
  • soil moisture

In the past 120 years, 5 major droughts have occurred across the Canadian Prairies. Starting in 1929 with the “Dust Bowl”, multi-year droughts also occurred in the 1980s and the early 2000s.

Alberta is currently in water shortage management stage 4 (out of 5), where multiple water management areas are impacted by water shortage. Visit:

Alberta’s government is monitoring conditions and working closely with water users and local governments to help manage and conserve water where possible.

For updates on current conditions in specific rivers or basins, visit:

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